City school board updated on building project

NORWICH – Norwich’s High School and Middle School buildings got a major overhaul during the summer, but the work isn’t quite done yet. Interim High School Principal Dr. Robert Cleveland and newly-tenured Middle School Principal Lisa Schuchman updated the school board on the status in their buildings at the board of education meeting last week.

In general, both building principals are pleased with the results of the work already completed in the schools. Cleveland referred to the renovations at the high school as a “dramatic improvement.” Schuchman echoed the sentiment when referring to changes at her school, calling the results “absolutely amazing.”

The two will no doubt be happier when the work is finally completed. There are kinks still needing to be worked out at both schools.

“We are still working with a lot of technology,” reported Schuchman, who said she had been told the buildings’ card swipes would be fully operational this week. Some classrooms in her building are still waiting for smart boards and computers to be installed as well.

“This is the typical tail end of a big capital project,” said Cleveland. “There are a million loose ends that will probably go on for another month if not six weeks.”

Large group instruction room and administrative counseling offices are still unfinished in the high school. Tile work in the building’s hallways also remains incomplete.

While Superintendent Gerard O’Sullvan plans to give a full building project update at the Oct. 21 meeting of the Norwich City School Board of Education, he fielded some questions about the status of construction during Tuesday’s meeting.